These were described by the Information Commissioner as “matters of significant public interest”.

The following areas, which were subject to FOI under NIPA, are no longer subject to the Act:

Proceeds of Crime Centre

Specialist Operations Centre

Crime Operational Support

Central Witness Bureau

Serious Crime Analysis

National Missing Persons Bureau

National Injury Database

In his letter, sent at the beginning of August 2012, Chris Graham says that important functions which the ICO had issued decision notices on may be in danger of being exempt from the Act.

He expressed his concerns with the bill:

“Whilst I acknowledge that partial designation under FOIA may not be straightforward, this and other options should be fully considered to render the removal of significant areas of activity from FOIA coverage unnecessary.”

I am a journalist and author. I am a staff writer at the UK edition of WIRED magazine and in 2015 my book, Freedom of Information: A Practical Guide for UK Journalists, was published. I created FOI Directory in 2012.